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Tile Installation Instructions
The installation of your investment can be fun and challenging. We recommend that prior to ordering you read through the installation section for the type of tile you will be purchasing. This way there are no surprises when it is time for installation.
If you are not installing the tile yourself, you should forward or print the instructions to your tile installer. Our tiles are unique and your tile installer may have never seen tile like ours.
Shell Mosaic Tile Installation
You have just purchased Shell Mosaic Tile, installing tile yourself is simple and fun. This installation guide will help you through every step of the process. If this is your first time installing tile, we recommend reading through this manual and having a friend accompany you with the installation.
Other common questions can be answered from your local tile shop or home improvement store. Don’t forget to take a sheet with you to show them. You may also look into taking a workshop class from a local home improvement center. You can also have a local tile installer or home remodeler install the tile as well. This guide contains all the information that they need.Good luck with your installation, we would love to hear from you and see what your completed project looks like.
Preparation
As with any tile project, you should do a test before tackling the entire project. Be sure to apply grout to the test as well to confirm that the colors look good. Perform the installation steps on a single sheet of tile on a test area before starting.
Inspect the surface that you will be installing the tile on. It should be applied directly to drywall or a cement wall board. If there is paint or wall paper, they should be removed and sanded with a heavy grit sandpaper to remove the smooth surface. Take your time ensuring that the surface is perfectly flat, and sand any high spots down. Taking your time here will make all the difference, Shell Mosaic Tile will not hide any defects in the surface area, it will show them.
Installation
Spread the mortar with the flat side of your trowel, this will ensure full coverage over the surface. Shell Mosaic Tile is very thin, so use the smallest notches on the trowel to remove the excess mortar.
Once you have coated a small area, you can begin placing your tile on the wall. As you pick up each sheet, inspect each sheet to see if any individual tiles are out of alignment. If you find one that is not straight, peel it from the mesh and continue to lay the sheet. Once the sheet has been placed you can reinsert the individual tile.
Handle the tile sheets carefully, the adhesive on the mesh is only designed to hold them on for a short time and not to be constantly handled.
As you apply each sheet, use your rubber grout float to apply firm even pressure to the tile sheet to get good contact with the mortar. This will ensure good contact with the mortar and prevent the tile from sliding down the wall as the mortar dries.
When you can no longer apply full size sheets to the wall, get a utility knife or scissors and cut the mesh backing to correct size. Depending on how close you want the tile to come to the edge you may need to use a pair of tile nippers and clip the final row to the correct size.
Once finished step back and inspect your work, fix any gaps or tile sheets that may have slid down slightly. Be sure to step back between each fix. Remember to apply firm pressure to each sheet before leaving it to set.
Allow mortar to dry. Check the directions on your mortar, but typically drying time is 2-4 hours.
Once the mortar has dried it’s time to apply the grout. If you skipped the grout in the test step, stop and go back. It is very important to be 100% sure the color you have selected is what you want. If not the only options are to live with it or start over.
Whip up some grout following the directions on the box. Shell Mosaic Tile does not require anywhere near as much grout as other mosaic tiles because of its shallow grout lines. Apply the grout to the tiles, spread the grout diagonally on the tile. Spreading diagonally keeps the grout form popping back out and applies a more consistent pattern.
One finished step back and inspect the grout, look for areas where the grout may have covered up a corner of a tile.
Wait approximately 45 minutes for the grout to grab hold. Dampen some cheese cloth or a sponge and lightly wipe off the excess grout from the tile surface. If the grout comes out of the grout lines, stop and repair the damage, and wait another half an hour.
Once you have done the initial cleaning of the grout, wait another 45 minutes and begin cleaning again. You can apply a little more force and water when cleaning the second time. Wrap some damp cheese cloth around your index finger and scrub any problem areas and tight corners.
Continue to dampen some cheese cloth and wipe any haze or film from the tile surface. Do this several times in half hour intervals. The more time spent you spend here now will pay off later. Failure to properly remove excess grout will leave the tile looking hazy. Aftermarket cleaning products will need to be purchased to remove the haze.
Maintenance
To keep your tiles looking their best, be sure to follow these steps:
When cleaning, use a soft sponge with warm water. (Do not use soapy water, it will leave a film residue on the tile)
Do NOT use harsh chemicals or chlorine based cleaners. These cleaners can remove the stain and permanently discolor the tile.
You can use a granite cleaner or polish to give it a protective coat. If you are unsure about a cleaner, don’t use it. You should test it in an inconspicuous area or if you have a sheet left over, you can test it on that first.
